Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Skink?

\Skink\, n. [L. scincus, Gr. ????.] [Written also {scink}.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of regularly scaled harmless lizards of the family {Scincid[ae]}, common in the warmer parts of all the continents. Note: The officinal skink ({Scincus officinalis}) inhabits the sandy plains of South Africa. It was believed by the ancients to be a specific for various diseases. A common slender species ({Seps tridactylus}) of Southern Europe was formerly believed to produce fatal diseases in cattle by mere contact. The American skinks include numerous species of the genus {Eumeces}, as the blue-tailed skink ({E. fasciatus}) of the Eastern United States. The ground skink, or ground lizard ({Oligosoma laterale}) inhabits the Southern United States.
\Skink\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Skinked}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Skinking}.] [Icel. skenja; akin to Sw. sk["a]ka, Dan. skienke, AS. scencan, D. & G. schenken. As. scencan is usually derived from sceonc, sceanc, shank, a hollow bone being supposed to have been used to draw off liquor from a cask. [root]161. See {Shank}, and cf. {Nunchion}.] To draw or serve, as drink. [Obs.] Bacchus the wine them skinketh all about. --Chaucer. Such wine as Ganymede doth skink to Jove. --Shirley.
\Skink\, v. i. To serve or draw liquor. [Obs.]
\Skink\, n. Drink; also, pottage. [Obs.] --Bacon.